On January 23, 2024, the keel of the second in a series of radio-electronic reconnaissance ships for the Polish Navy was laid at the Remontowa Shipbuilding. On the ship, which will be named ORP Henryk Zygalski, prefabrication of the hull has already been completed, and assembling the individual elements of the vessel into a whole has begun.
This is the second SIGINT ship under construction as part of the Dolphin programme. The keel of the first vessel, to be named ORP Jerzy Różycki, was laid on July 27, 2023. Remontowa Shipbuilding is executing a contract for the design, construction, delivery and logistical support of two radio-electronic reconnaissance ships, signed in November 2022 between the Armament Agency and Saab, which commissioned the Polish shipyard to build the vessels.
„A large delegation from Kockums AB was led by the company’s vice president, Lars Brännström. Guests from the Polish side included the head of the Armament Branch at the Navy Inspectorate in the Polish Armed Forces General Command, Rear Admiral Włodzimierz Kułagin, the Commander of the 3rd Ship Flotilla, Rear Admiral Andrzej Ogrodnik, Chief of the Maritime Technology in the Armament Agency” – Navy Captain Piotr Skóra and Deputy Chief of the Armament Agency, Col. Piotr Paluch.
„They will be highly reliable and advanced ships tailored to facilitate communication and electronic data collection. We believe these vessels will enhance the information-gathering capabilities of our Navy and Army, automatically strengthening our security and the security of NATO and the European Union. I would like to thank the Armament Agency, Saab and all shipyard employees involved in the project execution,” said Dariusz Jaguszewski, CEO of Remontowa Shipbuilding.
I am very proud of the progress in constructing the ships. They will be fitted with state-of-the-art systems to enhance defence capabilities in the Baltic and beyond. I trust they will soon enable mariners and soldiers to keep us safe,” stressed Lars Brännström.
A commemorative coin was welded into the ship’s keel during the ceremony. A protocol confirming the laying of the keel was also signed.
Photos: Sławomir Lewandowski / PortalMorski.pl